Mumbai: Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil stated on Sunday that Muslims holding Kunbi caste certificates should also be granted reservations in government jobs and education under the Other Backward Class (OBC) quota in Maharashtra, reported the Hindustan Times.
“There are government records that show that the Muslims are also part of Kunbi castes,” the newspaper quoted Jarange-Patil as saying. “When these records prove that they are also farmers and belong to the Kunbi community, then Muslims should also be given reservation from the OBC quota.”
The Kunbis, a sub-caste within the Maratha community, are already recognized as Other Backward Classes. The activist highlighted that Muslims should not be subjected to injustice, using the example of Bharatiya Janata Party leader Pasha Patel, whom Jarange-Patil claims has records indicating he is a Kunbi.
“If there are such records, then all Muslims should get reservations from the OBC quota,” Jarange-Patil demanded. “I will see how they don’t get their rights.” Over the past year, Jarange-Patil has led an agitation, including holding of hunger strikes, to demand reservations for Marathas in government jobs and educational institutes.
Jarange-Patil ended his fourth fast on February 26, six days after the Maharashtra legislature passed a bill granting a 10% quota in education and government jobs for the Maratha community. This quota will be added to the existing 52% reservation in the state, which already includes a 10% quota for the economically weaker sections.
Activist Jarange-Patil has insisted that the Marathas be given reservations only under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category, arguing that the separate reservation exceeds the constitutional ceiling of 50% and would likely be struck down by the judiciary. He has also demanded free education for the Maratha community from kindergarten to postgraduate levels and Kunbi certificates for all Marathas.